Foam-filled, tubular steel member useful in pole, pylon, or tower

ABSTRACT

A tubular member, which is made of steel and which is useful as an upright, structural member in a pole, pylon, or tower, is filled at least partially with a foamed material protecting said member against internal corrosion and against pest infiltration. The tubular member comprises plural sections, which have end flanges and which are bolted together at the flanges, and comprises gaskets to prevent the foamed material from being extruded between the flanges.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention pertains to a tubular, steel member, which is useful as an upright, structural member in a pole, pylon, or lattice tower. As contemplated by this invention, said member is filled at least partially with a foamed material protecting said member against internal corrosion and against pest infiltration. This invention pertains also to a tower comprising upright, structural members, each being a tubular, steel member filled at least partially with a foamed material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Commonly, poles, pylons, and lattice towers comprise upright, structural members, each being a tubular, steel member, which is galvanized externally and internally. Commonly, each member comprises tubular sections, which have end flanges and which are bolted together at the flanges. In some installations, particularly in saltwater environments, there is an actual or perceived need for each member to be protected against internal corrosion by more than galvanizing. In some installations, in which birds, rodents, insects, and other pests tend to infiltrate, there is an actual or perceived need for each member to be protected against their infiltration.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] This invention provides a tubular, steel member, which is useful as an upright, structural member in a pole, pylon, or tower, wherein the member is filled at least partially with a foamed material protecting said member against internal corrosion and against pest infiltration.

[0004] The tubular, steel member may comprise tubular sections, which have end flanges and which are bolted together at the flanges. If so, the tubular, steel member may comprise means, such as gaskets, to prevent the foamed material from being extruded between the flanges, particularly in a field installation of the foamed material.

[0005] This invention provides a tower comprising upright, structural members, each being a tubular, steel member, as described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006]FIG. 1 is a schematic elevation of a tower comprising steel tubes, which are filled at least partially with a cementitious material, as contemplated by this invention. FIG. 2 is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary detail illustrating two tube sections, which are bolted to one another at end flanges and which have a gasket between the flanges, as contemplated by this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT

[0007] As illustrated, a tower 10, which is useful to support antennas or to perform other similar or dissimilar functions, comprises upright steel tubes 20, which are made in plural sections 22 having external end flanges 24, which are bolted to one another by nuts 26 and bolts 28, in a manner conventional in tower construction. Preferably, the tube sections 22 are hot-dip galvanized, so as to be externally and internally protected against external and internal corrosion.

[0008] Each steel tube 20 is filled at least partially with a foamed material F, such as closed cell, polyurethane foam, which is pumped into the steel tube 20, foamed in place, and allowed to cure. The flanges 24 contacted by the foamed material F have gaskets 30 to prevent the foamed material F from being extruded between the flanges 24 contacted by the foamed material F before the foamed material F has cured. The foamed material F further protects said steel tube 20 against internal corrosion and, moreover, protects said steel tube 20 against pest infiltration.

[0009] Moreover, the tube sections 22 meeting at the flanges 24 having the gaskets 30 have notches 32, within which the gaskets 30 are seated, so as to allow the flanges 24 having the gaskets 30 to have flange-to-flange contact, as illustrated in FIG. 2, except where the gaskets 30 are seated in the notches 32. 

1. A tubular, steel member, which is useful as an upright, structural member in a pole, pylon, or tower, wherein the member is filled at least partially with a foamed material protecting said member against internal corrosion and against pest infiltration.
 2. The tubular, steel member of claim 1 comprising tubular sections, which have end flanges and which are bolted together at the flanges.
 3. The tubular, steel member of claim 2 comprising means to prevent the foamed material from being extruded between the flanges.
 4. The tubular, steel member of claim 2 comprising gaskets to prevent the foamed material from being extruded between the flanges.
 5. A tower comprising upright, structural members, each being a tubular, steel member according to claim
 1. 6. A tower comprising upright, structural members, each being a tubular, steel member according to claim
 2. 7. A tower comprising upright, structural members, each being a tubular, steel member according to claim
 3. 8. A tower comprising upright, structural members, each being a tubular, steel member according to claim
 4. 